MILTON, Fla. — A worrying trend is on the rise in one Santa Rosa County community. Police say fraudsters are finding new ways to swindle money from Milton seniors.
Milton Police Chief Jennifer Frank said officers noticed two scams. One of them is unlike anything the department has seen before.
The leader says these scams are more sophisticated. It’s all about artificial intelligence. She says anyone can become a victim, but it affects the senior community the most.
“I probably get one a week,” Faye Henry, program director at the Milton Community Center.
Henry recently received a call from someone she thought was her electric company. They contacted him with strange news.
“I was three months behind on my light bill and they were going to cut it off this afternoon,” Henry said. “…So I’m wondering what’s going on, but it wasn’t the same number on the electric bill.”
You can add Henry to the list of Milton residents contacted by scammers. She noticed the warning signs of a scam, but others in the community aren’t so lucky.
“I think the unfortunate thing is that it really preys on that emotional vulnerability,” Frank said.
Frank says there are two growing trends in Milton. The first is called the “grandparent scam.” It uses artificial intelligence to target older people.
“AI is new,” Frank said. “This is something we’ve never seen before.”
Frank says attackers will take photos or videos of their loved ones and clone their image with AI. Scammers will then contact the elderly family member to tell them that their loved one is in danger and the only way to get them to safety is to send them money.
“They will push an individual to respond immediately,” Frank said. “‘Don’t call anyone, otherwise something bad will happen then.’ The best thing we can do is stop for a second, take a moment to try to match these details.”
The second is a “Publishers Clearing House” scam. A victim is informed that they have won the contest, but they must pay a fee before they can receive the prize money.
“They send the $3,000 check assuming they’ll get a $300,000 check, and they sometimes do,” Frank said. “It gets mailed to them, they deposit it in their bank…only to find out a few days later that that check hasn’t been received. And now, not only do they not have the $300,000, but they also don’t have the $3,000 that they paid to cover the so-called taxes.”
Chief Frank says that in most cases, people who think they have won never entered the contest. Between these two scams, Frank says victims hand over between $3,000 and $100,000. In most cases, victims never see this money again.
“I’m afraid this will last a while,” Henry said.
The police recently organized a “Scam Day” for seniors to raise awareness of the risks. Inside the police station you will find leaflets and other resources about scams.
Frank says she also coordinates with local banks to crack down on crime.
“Not only are we responsible for keeping the streets safe, but we’re also trying to take care of these electronic highways,” Frank said.
Frank says if you’re unsure if a scammer is contacting you, it’s best to contact the police department in person if possible.
For the full conversation with Chef Frank, watch below.
